Ejiro Efenudu
In a landmark move to strengthen ties and foster South-South cooperation, Nigeria and the Government of Saint Lucia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on tourism development, investment promotion, and the growth of cultural and creative industries.
The MoU was formalized during President Bola Tinubu’s recent State visit to the Caribbean island-nation, which concluded over the weekend. The agreement marks a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two countries and aims to create pathways for mutual development, cultural exchange, and sectoral collaboration.
Signing on behalf of Saint Lucia was Dr. Ernest Hilaire, the country’s Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture, and Information. Nigeria was represented by Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy.
Key Areas of Cooperation
The agreement outlines several key areas of strategic cooperation:
- Tourism Development: Saint Lucia has committed to assisting Nigeria in designing a Community Tourism Programme. This includes sharing best practices on tourism certification and standards, and providing targeted training for Nigeria’s hospitality workforce.
- Culture and Creative Industries: Nigeria, known for its vibrant and fast-growing creative economy, will provide Saint Lucia with insights into its legislative framework supporting the sector. It will also facilitate Saint Lucia’s participation in the upcoming Lagos Fashion Week in 2025.
Additionally, both nations will encourage cultural exchanges and joint participation in key cultural events, including the celebrated Saint Lucia Carnival and the renowned Jazz & Arts Festival.
A Step Towards Greater South-South Collaboration
The agreement has been hailed as a strategic alignment of interests between two culturally rich and dynamic nations of the Global South. Both parties see the MoU as a framework to unlock new opportunities in trade, tourism, and cultural diplomacy.
Analysts suggest the pact will allow Nigeria to tap into Saint Lucia’s internationally acclaimed tourism expertise, while Saint Lucia stands to benefit from Nigeria’s creative and cultural export strength, which includes Nollywood, Afrobeats, fashion, and visual arts.
The move is also expected to boost Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy efforts and strengthen its positioning in global creative industry conversations.
President Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia was part of a broader diplomatic push to deepen Nigeria’s global partnerships across multiple sectors including energy, agriculture, tourism, and the creative economy. The agreement with Saint Lucia is one of the most tangible outcomes of this visit, and officials from both countries have expressed optimism about its long-term impact.
“This is more than just a partnership—it is a celebration of the cultural richness and potential that exists within our regions. We are proud to collaborate with Saint Lucia in this meaningful way,” Minister Hannatu Musawa stated.
The MoU is set to be implemented through joint action plans, technical cooperation, and the exchange of delegations, with monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure that both countries benefit equitably from the partnership.
With the agreement now signed, both Nigeria and Saint Lucia are looking ahead to the practical rollout of projects under the MoU, starting with preparations for joint participation in each other’s flagship tourism and cultural events.
